This time, I have a gun

No sooner had I left Garrigill, and joined Bailie in Edinburgh, did Pete give me call, asking, me how my trip to the Grouse moor had gone. After giving him the good news, and again telling him how thankful I was to him for networking me with the required people, he asked me what I was doing the coming weekend.
I gave my normal answer, which is "I'm flexible, why, what's up"?

He then made my year.

"How would you like to go back up to the Garrigill area, but on a different Grouse Moor, and shoot a syndicate gun for someone who cant make it?"

Now, Pete knew that I was trying to avoid paying for hunting. I was instead looking to sort out swap hunts for people wanting to hunt with me back in New Zealand, or just looking for an opportunity by someone wanting to help a fellow hunter out, hear some new stories, and share what he, or she had to offer. Its what I do back home for travelling or new hunters I meet, so I was hoping the same would be the case as I travelled the world. Safe to say, while it wasn't free, to use the phrase "he gave it away" does come to mind. Pete told me that I may never get an opportunity to hunt grouse ever again, and that there were waiting lists in the UK for guys to get onto syndicate shoots, I was sold. To sweeten the deal, he talked with Cliff,the head keeper, and explained the situation. Cliff then told us he was going to take us to chase some pheasants before hand, and if she wanted to, Bailie could come along, to either take part in the hunt, or to watch - Two for the price of one, and I really like Pete's negotiating skills.

Bailie hadn't ever been hunting before, but she was very familiar with guns, and firearms safety, as her and I did spend a lot of time back in New Zealand, shooting clay targets, with the idea that one day, she may want to join me on a hunt. With an opportunity like this, she was soon convinced that there's no better time like the present, so it was off to the shops to get her some hunting gear!

We arrived by train, where Pete picked us up. Once again, Pete and his wife, Jan welcomed me, and this time Bailie, into their home. I can't say enough wonderful things about these people.

Bailie enjoyed the drive to Garrigill as much as I had, and she was starting to see why I had been so excited. Arriving at the estate, we met up with Cliff, and the rest of the syndicate where we were breifed that we would all take turns driving and shooting in teams. To my absolute dismay, they all agreed that Bailie and I would just shoot, as they really wanted us to have a chance at bagging a grouse. Considering that these guys are full time, paid members of the syndicate, this was very generous of them.

The pheasant drives flushed plenty of birds, but all away from our end, and it was the other boys who added to the bag early. After that, it was time to drive the grouse.

We had some good hills to climb, and it was nice of the guys to give up their seat in the Polaris, so Bailie didn't have to slog it to the top - though after stalking Chamois with me in the Swiss Alps, I know she would have made it either way.

We started seeing more and more grouse as the day went on, but I had only managed a long shot at a passing covey, to no avail. Cliff set us all down and gave us the game plan for the last two drives, both of which he told us, he expected good things from. We lined up in our places, and waited for the beating team to close the gap, and flush the grouse...soon enough, I was hearing that all to familiar and unique call of the grouse, and I knew, this time, we had them.

There were grouse Everywhere! Guys were firing up and down the line, and then, straight ahead of me, I see a covey of grouse flying nap of the earth. I keep focused, and rather than looking at the entire covey, I pick one bird. That one grouse is all that I am focused on. I know where the other guns are, I know where the beaters and dogs are, all that exists, is me, and this grouse. The covey closes on me, and I'm remembering all the things I had learned the week before with Steven. At what I deem to be the right range, I swing up and through the climbing grouse, that's just off my left shoulder. The Browning's trigger is crisp, and as I gently squeeze it, I'm thinking this is the most important shot I've ever taken in my life with a shotgun. The Grouse crumples in mid air, taken centre pattern. I swing on to the next bird, but its pointless. I am so charged up about what I just did, the excitement gets the better of me and I rush the shot. I also note that I am now shooting behind me, with a rear aspect shot. What I thought was ideal range to start shooting the covey, was in fact not ideal - lesson learned.

All of this is ticking in my head, but my mouth is just yahooing. In an explosion of emotion, the whole syndicate knows the kiwi has bagged a grouse! No sooner had I dropped two more cartridges in the Browning, that another covey screams in. This time, I keep my calmness through both barrels, and shoot earlier. I down my first left and right of grouse. I managed two more as the drive went on, finishing with two and half brace, and I heard Bailie fire a few shots as well. I had marked where all my birds had landed, so I was a little surprised when she pointed to an area behind and between the both of us, asking if id picked up the one that had dropped there. I told her I hadn't shot a grouse that dropped there, and we were both a little confused. The next gun along came over and straightened it out. He had a huge smile on his face, and hs words will live with me forever. "dear, you shot that Grouse, not Tom". Bailie shoots a semi auto 20ga back home, which has a lot less kick than a 12ga double gun. The fact that she was pulling up and through the grouse, combined with the recoil, combined with the fact that the mobs of grouse were so big, she had no idea that she her self, had just joined a very elite club, and bagged her first ever gamebird. To start with a grouse flying 75 mile an hour, well, we all have to start somewhere dont we.

Bailie, Pete and Myself after a day in spent in Paradise

I gave up my spot the line, as I had accomplished more than I had hoped, so I joined the beaters for the final drive. Cliff told me to shoot any birds that flush close enough, but to keep in mind that it might effect the main shooters. With this in mind, while I flushed several birds just a few yards in front of me, i let them go down to the guns. I had had my turn, now it was someone else's.

We didn't even count the bag, it was irrelevant. It wasn't getting any bigger, or any smaller, and we divvied out the birds amongst those who wanted some. I took just two. They will be the first birds or animals I have ever had mounted, in 25 years of hunting, but they are easily the best trophy I will ever hope to have. A pair, the first grouse that Bailie and I each shot.

What a day to remember, and what a great crew if guys, who once again, were happy to share their little piece of paradise with not just me, but Bailie too.

The most generous, and welcoming Syndicate of Shooters, you would ever hope to find..